Can dogs eat mushrooms?
Just like for us humans, there are also mushrooms that are edible and those that are →toxic. To avoid any risk, you should not let your dog eat mushrooms found in the wild. Some poisonous mushrooms look very similar to edible ones. Even small amounts can lead to symptoms of poisoning.
In general, mushrooms are quite a challenging food for dogs. Even when properly prepared, they can be hard on your dog's stomach, simply because some dogs don't tolerate them well. That's why you should first start with a small amount and see if your dog handles eating mushrooms well.
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Which mushrooms can dogs eat?
If you still want to treat your dog to some mushrooms, you can stick to the edible mushrooms we eat as humans. The following types of mushrooms are especially popular:
Button mushrooms
Porcini mushrooms
Chanterelles
Oyster mushrooms
But all other mushroom varieties that are edible for us are also safe for your dog to eat. The question is, though, whether your dog will like them. There are also certain mushrooms that are said to have particularly great health benefits such as shiitake, maitake, and reishi mushrooms.
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Toxic mushrooms for dogs
The list of poisonous mushrooms for dogs is quite long. Only those who are very knowledgeable should go mushroom picking in the forest with their dog. Here, too, you can use the inedible varieties for humans as a guide.
Among others, the following mushrooms are poisonous for dogs:
Fly agaric
False morel / Spring false morel
Deadly galerina / Funeral bell
Cortinarius orellanus
Death cap
Panther cap
Giant entoloma
Devil's bolete / Satan's bolete
Brick-red webcap
Clitocybe dealbata / Ivory funnel
Lepiota / Yellow-staining lepiota
Tricholoma equestre
Destroying angel
Inky cap
Parasol mushroom / Giant poisonous parasol
Sulphur tuft
How do I properly prepare mushrooms for my dog?
Even if you offer your dog edible mushrooms, you should never feed them raw. While not toxic, mushrooms are hard to digest and can when raw cause →stomach pain or other digestive issues. That's why you should always boil mushrooms in unsalted water before feeding them or steam them in a pan without fat. If your dog is prone to stomach issues, it's best not to feed mushrooms at all. Instead, try another vegetable like →carrots, →broccoli or →pumpkin.
If your dog tolerates the vegetable well, it makes a healthy side dish in BARF or with regular food. Although they are mostly water, mushrooms contain plenty of vitamins and minerals. Mushrooms also pack a relatively high amount of protein.
